Lot's of gun-box management on this project Vic! Seems like the kit designers need to rework some of the details...
I’m finding that if I chop the strakes along a line, the results are better than slicing along the grain. When slicing, I sometimes have the wood split off in an untoward direction. 
Actually, I’m not complaining, Paul. It’s a nice kit and a wonderful ship. I’m learning a lot in the process and gaining new skills. As I told the admiral yesterday, it’s only wood. I can repair it with glue and clamps. (Yes, I dropped it yesterday and broke part of the stern.)
That is the beauty of wood - everything can (sort of) be repaired.
Happy (somewhat late) birthday. I am enjoying your build. You are almost convincing me to try another model from this company.
I'm enjoying it, even if it is a challenge. Maybe that's why I'm enjoying it.
I’ve read in a couple of places that the stem should not be built using horizontal planks. The pieces were large pieces of wood that were jigsawed together. I haven’t been able to find any pictures of how this would look on the SR yet, but I’m projecting something like this. Any ideas?
I bought some walnut veneer that I can use instead of the planking.
I bought some walnut veneer that I can use instead of the planking.
Foc’sle decking completed. 
Thanks, Heinrich. It’s teak. What do you think about the covering of the stem and the keel with the irregular pieces of walnut. The kit called for horizontal planks all the way up to the top of the stem or front of the keel. I thought I saw a different way to do that somewhere where it looks like a jigsaw puzzle.
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I think this is called scarfing the joints for the stem.
Has anyone else done this for the stem?
Has anyone else done this for the stem?
Here is my stem configuration... I was able to base mine on actual drawings.
Thanks, Paul. Mine seems to be a bit more massive and complex, though. I wish actual plans of the SR were available. Did you make them from solid pieces of wood, or did you veneer over plywood?
I veneered over plywood. The design of my kit called for planking (like yours) and by adding the veneer I was able to preserve the proper dimensions. Plus I didn't have tools or stock at the time to create these pieces from scratch. I do now but probably would have still gone with the veneer. It looks quite realistic to me.
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I hope I made it in time.Your vision of the components of the stem is wrong.They tried to collect the pieces along.As if they were building them on top of each other.Here are examples of how it was .See the drawings of Le Ambitieux
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That’s why I asked well beforehand. That makes a lot of sense, @Mr.Deep. I’m glad you joined in the discussion. In fact, I tried drawing it after I took this picture, and it looked closer to your picture. But yours is obviously more accurate. Just what I was looking for!
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Now I’m cutting strips of walnut veneer to replicate the building of the stem. 
I wish I had thought of doing this before starting the planking!
The walnut is singing a Patsy Cline song to me: “I fall to pieces!”
I’m liking the way it’s starting to look. 